Racism

Ignorance, hate and racism is rampant in America. In a country where people of all different walks of life, cultures, races, and backgrounds have made a home, it's imperative to be able to embrace everyone. This afternoon, my mom and I went to the mall to have a little girl time and shop. My birthday is nearing and she wanted to get a present for me. There were lots of people at the mall each rushing to and fro to the next shop, for the next sale. We look at the shoes, the dresses, and casual wear. As my mom and I look around, I find something I like and try it on. Mom likes it too and we go to the nearest cash register. There are two people waiting in line as two others people were being helped. The line was out of the way and not wanting to lose my place I stood behind the last lady. The women working the cash registers didn't seem to mind and so life went on. Another lady with her daughter came around and loudly stated how we weren't standing in the right place, pointing out that where she was standing was where the line was supposed to be. So the cashier asked us to move. We did. She asked her daughter to stand out of line to ask for the price and no one said anything. The daughter cut in front of me and asked for the price, the mother liked it and decided to buy it. My mother stated that she cut in front of me and that it was my turn. She, in turn, started ranting about our ignorance regarding a line. Then she went so far as to say, "In YOUR country, YOU yell! I'm not surprised at YOUR ignorance because in YOUR country you don't know anything." Now, the whole line thing did not bother my mom and me half as much as her racist comment. She had no right to assume what our background is and make a judgment of us based on it. She said an extremely racist comment and continued raging at "my supposed country". What she's ignorant of is that I was born in America.

But this raises a different question: who's country is America? Who does America belong to?

Does America belong to her? Does it belong to a certain ethnic group or race?

Answer: EVERYONE! Everyone who comes to America is searching for the "American Dream", for freedom and for prosperity. Everyone is here for the same thing. It is our homeland, no matter what race, what culture, what background we come from.

America suffers from racism; it is this disease of hate and ignorance that sickens America. There are more cultures and races in New York and LA within one square meter than in most places in the world. We are a melting pot of diversity. And we should embrace it!!! We should embrace different cultures, stop the nauseating stereotypes, end the hate and the violence.

If that woman knew who I or mother was, my history, my pain, my life, she would not have been so quick to unleash her venomous tongue.

In the end, I know this experience has made me a stronger person and more aware of the racism that's spilling out of malevolent mouths. I hope that as a reader you will also learn from this experience and rather than harden your hearts with hate at a another person , open them with kindness and honesty. We should communicate our differences and rejoice in our similarities. We should love unconditionally.

signed,

the slightly frustrated wayside wanderer